Österreichische Energieagentur - Austrian Energy Agency

Background and Status

The Austrian Energy Agency (formerly known as E.V.A.) was established in 1977 as a non-profit organisation.

The Austrian Energy Agency is the Austrian energy research and policy institution in which the federal and the provincial administration ("Bund" and "Länder" respectively) and some thirty important institutions and corporations from a variety of economic sectors cooperate.

The board of directors ("Präsidium") comprises the chancellor of the Austrian republic, the federal minister charged with energy affairs and the chairman of the provincial governors. The Austrian Energy Agency is the Austrian Member of the European Energy Network EnR.

Mission

The Austrian Energy Agency is the principal partner of the federal government in its effort to attain its energy policy objectives, which aim mainly at an macro-economically efficient production and a rational use of energy, at a stimulation of renewable energy sources and of innovative technologies. The Austrian Energy Agency acts, for all of its members, as a clearing house and a coordination platform for all associated national and international activities.

The overall mandate of the Austrian Energy Agency is to make "energy savings" an energy source which can successfully compete with conventional sources of energy, and to advocate boundary conditions under which market forces can act in favour of renewables and improved energy efficiency.

Programmes

• The Austrian Energy Agency assists federal and provincial governmental administrations in defining energy, technology and research policies.
• The Austrian Energy Agency analyses energy problems of technical, structural and behavioural nature, presents recommendations for actions, offers information to decision makers, and addresses the appropriate public audience.
• The Austrian Energy Agency develops long term strategies for sustainable development. This includes the analysis of Austria's present and future interactions with the European Community as well as with Central and East European countries.
• The Austrian Energy Agency evaluates the result of prototype experiences and promotes the diffusion of information regarding new developments.
• The Austrian Energy Agency cooperates to enhance the efficiency of existing institutions and organisations with similar programmes and missions.
• The Austrian Energy Agency offers information on the experience gained in the field of energy efficiency - on the level of technology, organisation, policy, information, consulting and evaluation - both in the national and the international context.
• The Austrian Energy Agency gives scientific support to the process of market diffusion of energy efficient technologies and provides a forum for the in-depth analyses of controversial topics.
• The Austrian Energy Agency describes its activities in quaterly reports, publishes study reports, and offers customers information.

Human Resources

The Austrian Energy Agency employs a staff of close to 60 people, including secretarial support. The expertise of the staff members ranges across the technical, economic, statistical and social science disciplines.

The internal organisation is based on three areas of activity; analyses, consulting and implementation.

Examples of activities

• Organisation of symposia on energy consulting, energy in public buildings, efficient electric appliances, energy rehabilitation of old buildings, wind energy.
• Studies on biomass, the gas sector, district heating, low energy buildings. The regulation of the electricity sector, energy taxes, Least-Cost-Planning.
• Monitoring of CO2 abatement policies, and CO2 saving technological innovation.
• Handbooks on subsidies for energy saving measures, and energy consulting.
• Cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries in the field of energy efficiency strategies (Energypartner-ships).
• Management of programmes concerning energy technology and innovation.
• Support for municipalities and regions in developing action - orientated energy plans in a cooperative process.
• Dissemination of information on EU-energy programmes.
• Scientific expertise in matters of energy taxation.
• Forum for energy related cooperation between the Austrian "Länder" and regional Energy Agencies.

Find further information about the Austrian Energy Agency at http://www.energyagency.at/(en)/.